Steven Thomas' sentencing postponed a third time

Sentencing for Steven Thomas, the former Mashantucket Pequot treasurer who pleaded guilty in October to stealing from the tribe, has been postponed a third time, to Feb. 26.

Sentencing had been scheduled for today in U.S. District Court in New Haven.

Judge Janet Bond Arterton approved Thomas' attorney's latest request for a continuance in a court filing made available Tuesday. The attorney, Richard Reeve, has cited conflicts with his trial schedule.

Thomas pleaded guilty in October to a single count of stealing $177,600 from the tribe while serving as assistant director of its Department of Natural Resources Protection in 2007. In exchange for the plea, the government dropped two other theft charges against Thomas, who admitted falsifying time cards on which he "overstated" the hours he worked.

The prosecution also agreed not to oppose Thomas' bid for a prison term shorter than the 12 to 18 months suggested under federal sentencing guidelines.

Thomas took another job with the tribe in December.

Originally, he was to be sentenced Jan. 3. Sentencing had been continued to Jan. 21 and then to today.

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